by L.S. Watts

Created on: August 06, 2009

Before the shark attack of New Jersey in 1916, many people considered sharks to be a harmless fish to humans. Since the incidents nearly a century ago, shark research has improved greatly. These incidents have even inspired American pop culture through editorial cartoons and even the movie Jaws based on Peter Benchley's best-selling novel.

The New Jersey shark attacks began July 1, 1916 when Charles Vansant of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was vacationing with his family at Beach Haven. Vansant decided to go for a swim with his dog before dinner. Eyewitnesses stated that Vansant began shouting not too long after entering the water. Originally people thought he was yelling at his dog. It was lifeguard, Alexander Ott that realized that he was actually in distress and swam out to save him. As Ott pulled Vansant's weakened body through the water to shore, he noticed the shark following them.

Once on shore they rushed Charles Vansant to the hotel and laid him on the manager's desk. They noticed his left leg was a mangled mess. Vansant's flesh had been stripped away from his left thigh. Unfortunately, at 6:45pm, he bled to death at the age of 25.

Despite numerous sea captains' reports of seeing sharks close to the shore and Vansant's recent death, beaches continued to stay open. Five days later, the shark strikes again. This time it was 45 miles north of Beach Haven in the town of Spring Lake, New Jersey.

Charles Bruder was the second person to fall victim to the shark attacks on July 6, 1916. He was a 27 year old Swiss bellhop at the Essex and Sussex Hotel. He was swimming 130 yards from the shore when he began screaming. The shark took a bite from his abdomen and completely severed his legs.

Two lifeguards, George White and Chris Anderson, used a lifeboat to row their way to Charles Bruder. Unfortunately, Bruder bled to death in the lifeboat on the way to shore.

On July 12, Thomas Cottell who was a Matawan resident and local sea captain spotted an 8-foot shark 16 miles inland in Matawan creek. No one believed him. In fact, the townsfolk thought he was imagining things. That is until the next attack around 2:00pm that day.

Lester Stillwell and other local boys were swimming in the creek in the Wyckoff Dock area. Witnesses remember seeing what they thought was a beaten up, weathered log. To their surprise this 'log' had a dorsal fin emerging from the water. Everyone panicked as they scrambled for the shore. Stillwell didn't make it in time and the shark attacked,

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